Sort of a Bust…but not really

Well we are off to a wonderful start aren’t we?  My purpose with these 100 days is two fold. 

1.  Tending the Physical Garden -  By getting in the habit of working out daily…(I always good Monday Mornings it is the other 5 days of the weeks that I loose it.)

2.  I'm great as having a Daily Quiet time (most days) but in this season I wanted to spend time asking the Father to reveal to me things about myself (not merely weakness as we can all nit pick ourselves to death, but strengths, truths, affirmations. 

So Monday comes along and I sleep in a smidge getting up at 6:30…I had plenty of time to get up and work out…but not enough time to work out, clean up, cook breakfast and have a quiet time…so I decided to catch up with the Lord later in the day….only after being headache free 51 days…I got a headache.  It was one of the nauseating kinds where your eyes don’t work to focus…etc…needless to say time with the Lord never did happen.

Tuesday Morning, I still had a headache  so decided not to get up early….rolled out of bed just minutes before having to be in the office….but again my eyes would not interact with a computer screen…so I through my bible and my dog in the truck and headed to the lake…Had a peaceful time praying and talking to God…did some reading…sort of…That evening I decided to try out Gator;s new pulling harness….he pulled about 75-100 lbs of dirt…but he needed my help to get it started and then needed me to help when he got tired…however we added to our garden spot!!!  …so afterwards I took him on a walk pulling 25 lbs just to build muscle. 

Wednesday…still had a headache though it was down to a very dull and quiet roar….again could not motivate myself to get up early so ignored both working out and time with Jesus….late evening I took another walk with Gator…shorter this time as I did not want him to dislike pulling stuff!!!  and well spent time in prayer..but still never cracked open my Bible….however durring the day I sorted pictures from rodeo camp and well I hate seeing pictures of myself…so it was a good motivator of sorts….I thought I want to look fit, but next Rodeo Camp.

This Morning I got up 5:30, worked out, spent time in the word, and realized that even though my week has not yet looked as I planned, each day I did exercise a little and each day I did spend time with the Lord. 

Most importantly Each day I did take some time to Ask My Dad to show me truths about myself.  

2.  I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s Own choosing.  (1 Peter 2:9)

3.  I am a leader, called and empowered by God;  I have much to give and pour into others.

4.  Blessed be the Lord my rock, Who Trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.  - Psalm 144:1

5.  I am the temple of the Living God.  (thought that hit me while listening to a a worship song with the lyrics “My God is not dead. He is surely alive and He’s living on the inside, roaring like a lion.”

Season of Tending, Beautifying and preparing my Garden

 

Even though it was after midnight when I arrived home this morning, I could not go to bed until I recorded in this new journal some of the thoughts I had on the drive home.  It seems that I am entering a new season. 

Rodeo Camp is over, the months of labor to prepare for it are done…but now it is time to get ready for the Fall Discipleship Training School,   Our January DTS just went home and having been feeling like crap for so much of their school I never did get over feeling out of the loop…but the fall school will be different…I have energy, feel great and I have vision!  Cant wait to get started. 

Headache free!!  But now I want to get in shape…never really been in shape…but I always felt incapable of doing much about it…now well  got a fairly low key summer I think…anyhow…I forsee time and I have the desire to make the most of the next few months.  So although I usually get up couple of times a week to work out my goal is to be consistent 5-6 times per week…PRAY FOR ME

The Theme of Week 1:  You are a Daughter of God; A Royal Princess in His Kingdom. 

This first week is just an introduction the to topic.  It encourages the reader to watch the movie Princess Diaries and compares us to young Mia.  Mia lived her entire life as common not knowing she was Royalty.  and when she did discover she was a princess she felt super unqualified for the job.  If we are Born again believers, then we are children of God that makes us sons or daughters of the King of Kings!!!  It might seem cheesy to call yourself a Prince or Princess but that is who you are!  Just as the kid in the movie had to learn how to walk, speak and act as Royalty we too need to learn to live in such a way we represent our Father and His Kingdom.  We need to learn to accept the privileges, take part in the responsibilities and walk out in our authority. 

It is a little weird doing a study I wrote years ago….to be honest the kids I wrote it for, hated it!!!   I felt it was complete failure.   But before leaving for Turkey I had given a copy to a friend in Cody who used it with her 2 young daughters (9 and 18 at the time) and they loved it.  Since I compiled a few other bible studies in writing it she is always encouraging me to either re-write it using only my own resources or ask those I referenced for official permission because my friend in Cody thinks I should pursue publishing it for homeschooling families or for mother/daughter  or independent teen bible studies.   We will have to see if I like it this second time around!

A Good book to read on this topic of Knowing who you are…Would be “Supernatural Ways of Royalty”  by Kris Vallotton.. (by the way if you read this and I lent my copy to you…please return it! or at least remind me of who has it, incase your still reading it…

I decided to start my list of Revelations of Who I AM with the last statement I wrote in my last 100 day season

1.  My Daddy is the King of all kings!!!  Jesus is my older Brother & Holy Spirit is my Teacher and Guide.  I am empowered with the fullness of His Spirit and I am a reflection of Jesus Christ.

I would like to invite you on a journey

Not sure what is with 100 day seasons in my life over the past year…but Here I go again on my third 100 day Journey…this one I challenge you to come along. 

the first 100 day season started in July of 2012.  I felt this urgency to be more purposeful in how I seek the Lord…Little did I know at the beginning of that season that I would have such an impactful time in Kansas City at Circuit Riders, that I would drive the Al- Can 3 times and the God would redirect me from the ministry in Alaska back to Wyoming.

My Second 100 days Journey started in March of this year and ended June 8th.  This time the goal was a fast for health reason….I had been plagued with intense headache and migraines several times a week for months.  The first 50 days alternated between a 10 day Daniel Fast, 30 day Juice Fast and back to a ten day Daniel Fast….the last 50 days I started easing back into foods….I had headaches throughout most of the fasting detoxing stage…but am happy to say that Today is 51 days headache free. 

During each 100 day season I also set out to Spend time with God, and allow Him to teach me to see myself through His eyes.   Every Day I would ask my Heavenly Dad, “Papa, how do you see me?”  Sometimes a scripture verse would immediately come to mind, other times a compliment from a friend would be spoken or come to my remembrance.  Other days it was a song or a phrase that would catch my attention and I would know that God wanted me to know that statement was true about me.  I think it is important that we see ourselves through our Fathers eyes and think of ourselves the way He thinks of us.  However in my two 100 day seasons I only wrote out 70 phrases….guess I was not as diligent in asking God how He saw me as I intended. 

                                                So Last night buying Groceries in Wal-Mart I stumbled across this Journal and knew immediately that I wanted to start a new journal.  I have journaled for years now and each Journal seems to mark a season in my life.  Usually on the first page or two I write out what I suspect God has for me in the next few months to few years that I intend to  use that Journal.  Usually I am right about the things God wants to teach me and shape in me…but it almost never comes as I had expected.  Seems every journal I am just a little hopeful that by the time It comes to a close the Mr. Right will have finally made his entrance into my life story.

For me a Journal is not so much for recording daily activities , thought I sometimes do, but it is a record of things that stood out to me in my morning Quiet times or God moments that caught my attention through out the day. 

I have been pretty pleased with the results of my last 100 days, I am eating healthier, lost a little weight, started working out again…though not as regularly as I intend…So I had been thinking in the next few weeks between now and the start of the September Discipleship Training School I was going to work on developing the habit of working out every day!!  continuing to eat right and making it my Goal to remain HEADACHE FREE and to loose weight, get in shape etc.  I figured I had a little over 70 days between now and the Sept School.

Then Last night when I found this Journal…and began the 30 mile drive home I began to dream about this next season…what might it look like?  I had this desire to focus on two Bible Studies….One I wrote for the girls I taught in Turkey it is a 34 week study I loosely titled Princess lessons, based on Proverbs 31.  The second one I would like to do is to dig into the Song of Solomon in more depth….If I don’t miss a week it will take me 50 weeks to complete these two studies, that is nearly a Year!!!  Not sure if the Journal is thick enough…but we will see. 

Starting this New Journal and hoping to use the next two months of a relaxed Summer to be diligent in working out daily not just on the mornings I feel like it…I began to think what if I started another 100 day season.   I want to finish my list of a 100 things God says about me.    I really felt like the theme of my life for the next 100 days  as well as for the duration of this journal which will outlast the 100 day window and hopefully cover the next 50 weeks of Bible Study will be tending the Garden. 

Spiritually it is always my goal to spend more time in the Word, more time in Prayer, to be more free in Worship and praying in the Spirit.  I want to Know my Lord more and Share His heartbeat for the people around me…I want my life and my Character to honor, glorify and please Him.  I want to be a light to those around me. 

Physically, I am gaining control of my health, but I now I want to focus on working out more consistently…I want to see the fruit of pounds being shed and I want to continue to live with out being bothered and slowed down by the pain and weariness that had plagued me this past fall and winter.

Emotionally I want to be more confident in who I am a a Daughter of the King.  Like anyone else I get down on myself and feel I have nothing to offer…but that is not How God see’s me, I am His Masterpiece.  His Beloved Child, His favorite….I once heard a Preacher – Andy Taylor out of OK say that  WE ARE WHO OUR FATHER SAYS WE ARE.  I need to not believe or speak anything else out about myself but what God says.

For me the next 100 days will be days I hope to spend with Jesus.  I am already pretty consistent with having a morning Quiet time…but this time my focus will also be on starting the “Princess Lessons Bible Study” 

The next 100 days will be days I intend to take care of the outside of me…get out and exercise, drink plenty of water and continue eating healthy….during the last 100 days I ate mostly veggies, fruit and nuts….towards the later half I added some meat, some dairy and some grains back in….I plan to continue that plan (at least until Sept 4th when our next DTS begins) 

and the part of the Journey I am inviting you on is for the next 100 days I am going to review  and build upon that list of Statements God says about me.  Every day I am going to ask God to show me How He sees me…I'm going to share the list I already started and I encourage you to take the next 100 days to ask Your Heavenly Dad to reveal to you how He sees you…cause that is who you are. 

And well recoding the next 100 days here…will hopefully get me in the habit of keeping up this silly blog better…instead of the periodic every 6-10 month posts I have done for the last few years. 

The 100 day Season.

October 19th was the last day of the hundred day season I set aside to more intentionally seek God. 

Originally I had planned to come aside three times a day evening, morning and noon as I read in the psalms, just to be in His presence.  Read the word, pray, seek His face.  It never did look like that… I mean mornings are usually pretty easy times to have a quiet time, but I rarely succeed at pulling aside at noon and evening often found me to tired to do all I intended to do in the word. 

I intended to really study the commands of Christ so I knew how to live my life.  I wanted to ask my heavenly Dad how He saw me each day so I could practice hearing His voice as well as get a better grasp of who I am.   Occasionally this happened but not to the extent I intended.

However I look back on the last 100 days and have to admit a lot did happen!!!

I wanted direction and vision for ministry.

Little did I know 100 days ago that I was going to be moving to Wyoming and rejoining Cowboys With A Mission.  Yet here I am. 

I wanted to study the scripture and discover what it meant to live like a follower of Jesus…

Instead one passage rocked my world and instead of trying to live up to a list of commands from the NT I am seeking to live out just one verse well….

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself.”

Hard to believe how much has changed in the past 100 days. 

Day 31 0f 100 day Season

It has been an incredible month…still not sure Where God is taking me in this season, but I have enjoyed the extra time set aside to be in His presence.

I had great intentions to “Come Away” at least 3 times a day to seek Him, to pray scripture Morning, Noon and Night….It happens most days, but not every day.  Morning Quiet times have been a habit I have developed since my DTS and something I don't like to miss.  Usually I roll out of bed, grab my bible and phone in the same movement….however the whole pulling aside at noon and at night is a little harder to keep up with.  at noon there are people to talk with, especially in this season down in Kansas City at the School of the Circuit riders, and at night, I am exhausted I usually just get on face book, post some comments about the day, write in my journal and crawl in bed.  there have been a few evenings (3 in the last week, where as I journaled I turned on Netflix and have listened to some funny crime show…..

Last night during the worship, the passage in Revelation was read out about anointing our eyes that we may see God.  Mike Bickel got up and spoke how anointing our eyes was not about literally anointing our eyes but about consecrating them not to look on evil or wasteful things.   I am pretty careful what I watch movie or TV wise, and in a film with a lot of sex or violence I look away or fast forward…but I could not help but feel convicted, this is a season I set aside to behold God, so why fill my eyes with anything wasteful…so for the rest of this season I am choosing to not waste my time with movies or Netflix shows (I don't have a TV)  Pray for me though the newest NCIS comes out in a few weeks and really that something I have been looking forward to for months….I even contemplated waiting a month to shut off Netflix…so spiritual that I am :-)

We need More Unity in the Church!!!

Challenging thought of the day, what are Navy Seal Team 6 known for?

Great Exploits? Intense Dedication? Tight Brotherhood? Unity? Obedience to a cause and submitted wills to a greater good? Willingness to lay down and risk their lives for one-another and for others?

Stories are told, movies are made telling about their heroic deeds and their unity....

Now I love our military and admire and honor their service, but shouldn't the church be the greatest example of heroism, great deeds, team unity & brotherhood, submission and obedience?

Lord, help us, as the Bride of Christ to live in such a way that You are glorified!!!!

6 Days on the Road

We made it!!!!! Myself and 13 others loaded up in a 15 passenger van and headed out of Homer, AK. Our destination was the 2 week school of the Circuit Rider in Kansas City, MO.

This Journey for me actually started last fall, when I was invited to join a team of 30 from Kona, Hawaii who had come to Alaska to spread Revival. I enjoyed traveling around the state with them for 5 weeks. What impressed me most was their boldness. These guys were daring in evangelism, taking every open door available, which is something I have never walked in. The team had just completed a school called the school of the Circuit Riders, modeling themselves after the Circuit Riding Preachers that once criss-crossed our nation. I kept thinking if I ever get the chance to do a school similar to what they did, then I am going to take it.

Than in January I hear that not only will they do another school similar this next summer but they were doing 6 schools, each in a different location. I looked up the location and saw that the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City was one of the locations. I have been intrigued with the Moravians of Europe for years (they had a prayer meeting that lasted for over 100 years, and out of that they led the first and largest missions movements of the protestant Church) anyhow I have always wanted to visit IHOP to see what it is like to be in an environment where people are praying and worshiping God 24x7. So I decided that of all the options for a school I wanted to attend the one in KC.

However as I made plans to go, Lissy and Ian two of my co-workers also made the decision to come. Then one of my guys from the Peru team was invited to join us. Then we had a Discipleship Training School happening and there outreach began the same time so we started looking into having them fly out of Kansas City instead and letting this school be their last week of class and first week of lecture. So soon, the two DTS leaders and their 8 students were coming too.

And that is how we all ended up loading up in a 15 passenger van and spending 6 days on the road to get to Kansas City.

The drive down was great. Not a complaint was heard among this road weary crew. We had some great adventures along the way and saw God provide. Our first day we put in a full 24 hours, but by evening of day two we were all exhausted and wanted out of the van. Not having a stop scheduled or a place to stay we prayed for God to provided and Ian, contacted a church he had once visited years before. Sure enough they welcomed us with Open Arms. It felt good to sleep in a laying down position!

Day 3 we got an early start and again drove as far as possible. We made it to Didsburry Canada where one of our students contacted the church he had attended as a kid. Again we were blessed with a great place to stay. Day 4 had us entering Montana and Wyoming….I was home, and singing old cowboy songs all the way down. I had arranged for the team to stay two nights at the Cowboys With a Mission base. (Partly for them, to rest and get out of the vehicle for a full 31 hours, but also for me to allow me time to see friends and family in the Cody, Meeteetse area.

Our time in Wyoming was great. While I took the day to see loved one; The team got a free trip rafting down the Shoshone River, They killed two rattle snakes on the CWAM property, and several of them attended their first ever Rodeo with me in the evening.

Refreshed and ready to go we hit the road one last time. The signs for Wall drug all along I-90 lured them in to see just what this place was. I did not spoil the fun so kept quiet and kept them guessing as they debated whether or not to stop. They had fun. That night we stayed with 3 families from the Hawarden IA area. My mom and two homes form my church. Each group was a blessed with a home cooked meal! And the church provided everyone with the means to pack a lunch. So with food to go we drove our last 6 hours arriving in Kansas City in the afternoon.

Before leaving Alaska our housing option fell through and so we left AK not knowing where we would sleep for the two weeks of class. But once we hit Montana we had a call form a church, they might have a room we could crash in. As it turns out they have a beautiful building the guys got to crash in, the pastor welcomed Billy and Sam into their home and another lady took in us 4 girls. God has abundantly blessed us.

I too experienced a miracle of my own. I left Alaska with only my tuition paid, part of my gas money set aside and a promise for a 100 that would help with gas. I knew I would have to fast the entire time in Kansas City because I had no food money, and if the crew ended up paying for housing I was going to have to live in the van cause I had no money for a place to stay. During our day in Wyoming, the base in Alaska called to tell me that they were depositing 700 in my account, an unexpected gift from friends. 

We will also get to see God provide on the way home, for of our budgeted 2000 for fuel, we spent 1600 getting the 15 passenger van and trailer down here.  So those of us not going to Mongolia have only 400 to get back :)